Chapter 47: To the Forest 2
Crackling branches disturb the quiet forest.
Grace lifts her hand slowly.
In response, we all grip our weapons, preparing for the incoming battle.
Then, a mangy wolf leaps out from the forest's shadows.
Raaaaak!!
Its mouth brims with razor-sharp teeth, capable of shattering bones with a single bite.
But, those fearsome fangs find no target to sink into.
"I've got it. Stand back!"
"Right!"
It's not a beast attacking, but a woman falling into my arms.
To prevent any reflected damage, I hold its gnashing mouth under my armpit and tightly grip its clawing front paws.
The wolf's hind legs kick the forest floor in desperation, but with its mouth secured, it's helpless.
A thin one-handed sword cuts through the rising dust, swooping in.
It pierces the wolf's front leg, scrapes a long line across its chest and belly, and moves past.
At the same time, an arrow whizzes from behind, slicing through the air.
The arrow pierces the moss wolf's nose right between my armpits.
Following it, slower than an arrow but with unrivaled destructive force, Han Se-ah's magic missile streaks through the air.
"...So, moss wolves are this easy to kill."
As the magic slams into the Moss Wolf's side, it lets out a dying cry, leaves behind a mana stone, and vanishes from my arms.
"It's not much stronger than a horned wolf. It merely possesses superior stealth abilities and enhanced intelligence due to the moss on its fur. However, its combat prowess is not particularly high. If we target their weak spots and work together as we just did, we'll breeze through these forest monsters."
"I understand."
With Grace's self-bought bow, Han Se-ah's staff, and additional skill points from the Full Moon Wolf hunt, plus Kaiden's skilled swordsmanshipbefitting a 4their combined strength can topple a named monster, not just the normal mobs.
Kaiden, who'd soloed up to the 14th floor, seems slightly moved.
When you're alone and your scouting abilities aren't strong, you end up falling into Moss Wolf ambushes, leading to intense fights.
Having a scout who can spot the Moss Wolf's stealth and a tank to physically stop its charge must be a whole new experience.
Han Se-ah nodded in agreement and continued the conversation.
"Then, there's no reason to stay on the 11th floor. We should aim to explore the tower slowly, with Grace as our focus."
"Indeed, this party doesn't seem suitable for the 11th floor."
Next to the 6, 5, and 4, Grace at 3 might seem weak.
But considering most players start with 2 party members, Grace is an above-average member.
Kaiden's lips twitched as she realizes that the party she joined, is elite.
Han Se-ah and Grace were also pleased at the effectiveness of their attacks.
"As I mentioned, I'll handle the Moss Wolves and Helmeted Deer. Of course, I'll let a few pass, so don't let your guard down too much."
"Yes! So I'll protect my sisters then?"
Irene, who had nothing to do, immediately responded to my instructions.
As a member of the temple, she seemed to dislike having it easy.
Yet, if we bump into a mob of kobolds or goblins and things get messy, she'll have her hands full.
After collecting the magic stone from the Moss Wolf, we resumed our exploration of the dense forest, with Grace leading the way with her scouting skills.Ñøv€l--ß1n hosted the premiere release of this chapter.
Unlike the plains, the forest's rugged terrain slows us down.
Roots trip us up, and branches block our view.
But it's not as steep as a mountain.
Furthermore, in the shadowy parts of the dense forest, Moss Wolves with camouflage lurk silently, and in slightly open areas, Helmeted Deer charge forward like cavalry.
"Oh Goddess, protect us!"
Han Se-ah went on a city tour based on her viewers' suggestions, while Grace headed to the archery practice room at the Hunter's Guild to further adjust to her new bow.
That left only Kaiden, whom I had met for the first time today, and myself.
She departed swiftly, bowing her head as if eager to hide her cross-dressing.
I wonder if she realizes such behavior is unbecoming of a mercenary.
If she were a genuine mercenary, especially a new recruit of Rebecca's Mercenary Group, she would've been clinging to me and asking about attractive women.
So, left alone, I naturally purchased a bottle of alcohol and retreated to my room.
-Victim of the Full Moon Wolf
-The game seems too easy.
-Why am I the only unlucky one?
-BB Games, the worst game company of this era.
-Lol, who threatened you with a knife?
The purpose, of course, was to post on the forum which was one of my quest rewards.
Unlike usual, a button was added in the corner of the hologram of the forum in front of me.
Never thought I would be so glad to see the words 'Write Post' in my life.
Before writing my post, I glanced through the forum.
-Lol, who threatened you with a knife?
[Player riding a carriage.JPG]
[Village with a broken fence.JPG]
I'm wandering around the kingdom because I don't want to be stabbed to death by Horned Wolves.
Even if you don't go to the Adventurer's Guild and instead join a mercenary group to run errands, your level still increases.
The one who will reach the top will be a streamer anyway, so does anyone want to hunt goblins?
Does that pay well?
It's similar whether it's the lower floors of the tower or the mercenaries.
I know one guy went into blacksmithing, but this one escaped to outside the city.
Where do you respawn in the morning if you leave the city?
In my sleeping bag at the Mercenary camp.
The game, Heroes Chronicle, merely suggests climbing the tower as the main quest, but it doesn't enforce it.
As a result, players of all kinds, from perverts to explorers, are roaming the vast open world.
Some join the Mercenary Group and wander the kingdom, while others find employment at inns or become apprentices of blacksmiths or carpenters.
There are even those who voluntarily serve the Magic Tower after becoming mages.
One player even attempted to climb the tower from the outside, only to be caught by a guard.
It seems most people gave up after seeing Han Se-ah get a 6 and Kim Seok-hyun following right behind her.
After browsing around for a while, I pressed the 'write post' button.
***
Someone asked about why MC doesn't reveal he's from Earth last chap, I gave the author's note for that I think sometime ago, might have to go looking. But it was something along the lines of: he gets nothing out of it. She can't do anything for him even if she does know. If she knows, nothing changes, he still has to climb to the top of the tower with her.
There was more I can't remember but that was the gist of it. Probably meant to reflect his personality/mentality after 10 years of killing and people dying.
Hopefully the author expands more on his experiences as rookie/intermediate adventurer and how he became the womanizing, get drunk every day, benefits-calculating guy he is now.
2/5 Enjoy the chappy!
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